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This paper details the compilation of data and application of quality assurance procedures for constructing a 157‐year snow and sleet series for the Greater Dublin Area, Ireland. Snowfall is particularly sensitive to climate variability in temperate regions, and long‐term records are essential for understanding changes in winter weather extremes over time. The dataset integrates observations from six sites and provides a regional snow and sleet frequency dataset at monthly, seasonal (October–May) and annual resolutions. Data sources include archived meteorological records, digitised station logs and synoptic weather reports. A brief analysis offers insights into long‐term snowfall climatology in the Greater Dublin region from 1867 to 2024, revealing substantial interannual and decadal variability, as well as notable reductions in snow frequency in recent decades. This dataset provides a valuable baseline for assessing historical trends in snowfall and contributes to broader efforts in climate reconstruction and climate change impact studies in Ireland and beyond. This study presents a 157‐year dataset of monthly snow and sleet frequencies for the Greater Dublin Area. Based on historical and modern observations, it offers high‐resolution insight into long‐term snowfall and sleet variability in Ireland and supports climate impact research through a quality‐assured, openly accessible dataset.

This article presents daily rainfall data and metadata for Ireland transcribed from historical manuscript and printed copies of rainfall registers located in Met Éireann's archives. To facilitate the transcription of rainfall observations from paper records, the historical manuscripts were scanned and integrated into Met Éireann's digital archives. The transcription from digital image to data format was undertaken in collaboration with students at Maynooth University as part of a novel crowdsourcing initiative to integrate data rescue activities into the classroom. In total, 3,616 station years of rainfall data (~1.32 million daily values) were transcribed. The data, which was double keyed, have undergone basic quality assurance to check for transcription errors and the resultant raw data and associated metadata are presented here. Ongoing work involves the application of further quality assurance and homogenization techniques to develop a long‐term, quality assured daily rainfall network for Ireland. Daily rainfall data and metadata for Ireland transcribed from historical manuscript and printed copies of rainfall registers located in Met Éireann’s archives. In total, 3,616 station years of rainfall data (~1.32 million daily values) were transcribed. The data, which was double keyed, has undergone basic quality assurance to check for transcription errors. Ongoing work involves the application of further quality assurance and homogenisation techniques to develop a long‐term, quality assured daily rainfall network for Ireland.

There is an urgent need to measure phosphorylated cell signaling proteins in cancer tissue for the individualization of molecular targeted kinase inhibitor therapy. However, phosphoproteins fluctuate rapidly following tissue procurement. Snap-freezing preserves phosphoproteins, but is unavailable in most clinics and compromises diagnostic morphology. Formalin fixation preserves tissue histomorphology, but penetrates tissue slowly, and is unsuitable for stabilizing phosphoproteins. We originated and evaluated a novel one-step biomarker and histology preservative (BHP) chemistry that stabilizes signaling protein phosphorylation and retains formalin-like tissue histomorphology with equivalent immunohistochemistry in a single paraffin block. Total protein yield extracted from BHP-fixed, routine paraffin-embedded mouse liver was 100% compared to snap-frozen tissue. The abundance of 14 phosphorylated proteins was found to be stable over extended fixation times in BHP fixed paraffin embedded human colon mucosa. Compared to matched snap-frozen tissue, 8 phosphoproteins were equally preserved in mouse liver, while AMPKβ1 Ser108 was slightly elevated after BHP fixation. More than 25 tissues from mouse, cat and human specimens were evaluated for preservation of histomorphology. Selected tissues were evaluated in a multi-site, independent pathology review. Tissue fixed with BHP showed equivalent preservation of cytoplasmic and membrane cytomorphology, with significantly better nuclear chromatin preservation by BHP compared to formalin. Immunohistochemical staining of 13 non-phosphorylated proteins, including estrogen receptor alpha, progesterone receptor, Ki-67 and Her2, was equal to or stronger in BHP compared to formalin. BHP demonstrated significantly improved immunohistochemical detection of phosphorylated proteins ERK Thr202/Tyr204, GSK3-α/β Ser21/Ser9, p38-MAPK Thr180/Tyr182, eIF4G Ser1108 and Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase Ser79. In a single paraffin block BHP preserved the phosphorylation state of several signaling proteins at a level comparable to snap-freezing, while maintaining the full diagnostic immunohistochemical and histomorphologic detail of formalin fixation. This new tissue fixative has the potential to greatly facilitate personalized medicine, biobanking, and phospho-proteomic research.

Background Esophageal bronchus is a rare form of communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation and a rare but important cause of an opaque hemithorax on chest radiography. A higher incidence of esophageal bronchus is associated with esophageal atresia, tracheo-esophageal fistula (TEF) and VACTERL (vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac defects, tracheo-esophageal fistula, renal anomalies, and limb abnormalities) association. In the presence of these conditions, the pediatric radiologist may be the first to consider the diagnosis of esophageal bronchus or esophageal lung. Objective To describe the imaging features in five children with esophageal bronchus. Materials and methods We reviewed hospital records and teaching files at two large pediatric tertiary referral centers over the 24-year period from January 1992 to January 2016. We reviewed all imaging studies and tabulated findings on radiography, fluoroscopic upper gastrointestinal (GI) series and CT. We then described the imaging features of esophageal bronchi with emphasis on CT and upper GI findings in four infants and one toddler. Results Three cases were identified from one institution (cases 2, 3, 4) and two from another (cases 1, 5). All five cases occurred in association with other midline malformations: four of the five had VACTERL association and three of the five had esophageal atresia and TEF. Conclusion Lung opacification, ipsilateral mediastinal shift, and an abnormal carina and anomalous vascular anatomy suggest an esophageal bronchus or an esophageal lung on CT. While esophageal bronchus is a rare cause of an opaque hemithorax, CT and upper GI imaging play key roles in its diagnosis. Associations with esophageal atresia with tracheo-esophageal fistula and VACTERL association are particularly pertinent. Early diagnosis of esophageal bronchus might prevent complications such as aspiration and infection, which can allow for parenchymal sparing surgery as opposed to pneumonectomy.

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐positive mucocutaneous ulcer is a lymphoproliferative disorder occurring in patients due to iatrogenic or age‐related immunosuppression confined to the oropharynx, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. Here, we report the first case to our knowledge of EBV‐positive mucocutaneous ulcer occurring in a gallbladder.

IntroductionPaediatricians play a significant role in preventive healthcare1. There is a strong link between radiation exposure and the development of cancer2. The typical dose of radiation required for an abdominal x-ray (AXR) is 0.46 mSv, which is the equivalent approximate dose to 35 chest x-rays3. AXRs are frequently ordered for children in our hospital by staff in paediatric, surgical and Emergency Departments (ED) who may be unaware of the guidelines surrounding clinical indications for AXRs.AimsTo review the indications for paediatric AXRs requested in our hospital and compare them to the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne (RCHM) Guidelines4, which are considered the gold standard.MethodsAXRs performed in University Hospital Galway from 1st June - 30th November 2018, on children ≤14 years old, were identified. Those ordered from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and those ordered directly by the patient’s General Practitioner were excluded. Details including patient age, clinical indication, requesting specialty, existing diagnoses and previous presentations with the same complaint were collected from the online radiology system.ResultsA total of 132 AXRs were identified, 83 of which were included in the analysis. In accordance with RCHM guidance, 49.4% (n=41) of requests were appropriate. Bowel obstruction and foreign body ingestion were the commonest indications for appropriate requests; constipation and non-specific abdominal pain were the commonest inappropriate requests. The paediatric department requested 55 AXRs, 49% (n=27) considered appropriate; the surgical department requested 9, zero considered appropriate. The ED requested 17 AXRs, 70.5% (n=12) considered appropriate.ConclusionDuring the 6-month period, over half of the AXR requests were deemed inappropriate and may have been avoided. Further education concerning AXR indications should be directed at paediatric and surgical teams primarily to minimise unnecessary investigations and limit radiation exposure.ReferencesChang VY, Davidson TB ( 2015). Childhood Exposures and Risk of Malignancy in Adulthood. Pediatric Annals. 44(11), e270–e273.Willis CE, Slovis T L ( 2005). The ALARA concept in pediatric cr and dr: dose reduction in pediatric radiographic exams — a white paper conference. American Journal of Roentgenology, 184(2), 373–374.Linet M, Kim K, Rajaraman P ( 2008). Children’s exposure to diagnostic medical radiation and cancer risk: epidemiologic and dosimetric considerations. Pediatric Radiology, [online] 39(S1), pp.4–26. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00247–008–Z1026–3.The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne ( 2019). Clinical Practice Guidelines, Radiology - Acute Indications. [online] Available at: https://www.rch.org.au/clinicalguide/guideline_index/Radiology_Guidelines_Acute_indications/.

The development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in an existing myeloproliferative neoplasm is rare with historical cases unable to differentiate between concomitant malignancies or leukemic transformation. Molecular studies of coexisting JAK2 V617F-positive myeloproliferative neoplasms and mature B cell malignancies indicate distinct disease entities arising in myeloid and lymphoid committed hematopoietic progenitor cells, respectively. Mutations of CALR in essential thrombocythemia appear to be associated with a distinct phenotype and a lower risk of thrombosis yet their impact on disease progression is less well defined. The as yet undescribed scenario of pro-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia arising in CALR mutated essential thrombocythemia is presented. Intensive treatment for the leukemia allowed for expansion of the original CALR mutated clone. Whether CALR mutations in myeloproliferative neoplasms predispose to the acquisition of additional malignancies, particularly lymphoproliferative disorders, is not yet known.

Over much of the globe, the temporal extent of meteorological records is limited, yet a wealth of data remains in paper or image form in numerous archives. This research presents daily rainfall data and metadata for Ireland transcribed from historical manuscripts and printed copies of rainfall registers located in Met Éireann's archives. To facilitate the transcription of rainfall observations from paper records, the historical manuscripts were scanned and integrated into Met Éireann's digital archives. The transcription from digital image to data format was undertaken in collaboration with students at Maynooth University as part of a novel crowdsourcing initiative to integrate data rescue activities into the classroom. In total, 3,616 station years of rainfall data (~1.32 million daily values) and associated metadata for the period 1864-1940 were transcribed and made available.Utilising the rescued data to extend current station records, this research provides the first long‐term assessment of changes in extreme precipitation observed for 30 daily station series across Ireland. Quality control of rescued data was carried out before selected long-term stations were tested for homogeneity using RHtests software. Eleven extreme precipitation indicators were calculated on an annual basis for two fixed periods, 1910-2019 and 1940-2019, and analysed to determine spatial and temporal trends in the frequency, intensity and magnitude of observed precipitation. The persistence of trends for the full record length and different periods of analysis was assessed for all stations and indicators. Results show an overall tendency towards increasing trends, with increases in precipitation extremes and intensity especially notable in the east and southeast of the island. The findings suggest that the contribution of heavy and extreme precipitation events to annual totals are increasing, despite the lack of a robust trend in annual totals.The dataset produced is fully traceable and will have a long legacy of impact for understanding historical extremes, climate variability and change in Ireland, while the procedures for data rescue are already inspiring similar approaches in other University settings. Moreover, the work provides a relatively rare attempt to homogenise daily precipitation data, with a novel study design implemented to ensure the robustness of results. While data rescue activities can be slow and painstaking, the dataset produced resurrects the lifetimes work of many hundreds of weather observers across Ireland and sheds light on the unfolding changes in Irish precipitation.

Lymphoma diagnosis is complex, requiring a wide array of adjunctive tests to reach accurate diagnoses. We retrospectively examined the rates of concordance between referral and review lymphoma diagnoses on cases referred to St James’s Hospital, Dublin for multidisciplinary team review between 2013 and 2016. Frequency and cost of adjunctive diagnostic tests performed were also analysed. The overall discordance rate was 7.8% (14/179), compared with rates of 6%–48% in the published literature. 13 discordant cases required a change in clinical management following review of the referred diagnosis. Of all referred cases, 33.5% (60/179) required extra analyses to reach a final diagnosis, costing the reference laboratory €35463.40. We conclude that establishment of centralised haematopathology diagnostic networks would help reduce the rate of revision made to lymphoma diagnoses by providing specialist haematopathologist input and access to ancillary testing.